COUNTRY WOMEN OF THE WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23865, 20 July 1939, Page 21

COUNTRY WOMEN OF THE WORLD

INVITATION TO VISIT GERMANY LONDON, June 12. Mrs Alfred Watt, of Canada, founder of th* Associated Country Women of the World, was returned unopposed as president of the organisation at the triennial conference, which was continued in London. Countess Margarete Keyserlingk, president of the Silesia County Organisation of the Red Cross, was returned unopposed as honorary vice-president Vice-presidents were elected as follows:—Mrs Godfrey Drage (Wales), Lady Eleanor Cole (Kenya). Fru M. Michelet (Norway), Miss E. Zimmern (England), Mrs Guy Roop (U.S.A.), Lady Tiprmine Lucas (France), Mrs Sargoot (Australia) and Mrs Edith O’Connor (South Africa). It was decided by a large majority to recommend to the Executive Committee that the next triennial conference be held in Europe. An invitation from Canada was withdrawn on the ground that the next conference should be held in a non-English-speak-ing country.. - Countess von Roedern, a German delegate, jald that she had been authorised by her Government to extend an invitation. "We should like you to see the new Germany,” she said, ‘‘so that you will know it better and understand it better.” The conference ended with a special service in Canterbury Cathedral. There were three processions to the cathedral precincts, one consisting of Ministers; High Commissioners and Agents-generaJ of the countries represented at tlhe service. Music in the cathedral was played by the British Women’s Symphony Orchestra. The Primate was the preacher. During the afternoon and evening two performances were given in the Chapter House of " The Devil to Pay, Dorothy L. Sayers's new play, specially written for the Canterbury Cathedral festival. Miss Sayers, says a critic, • uses the legend of Faustus as material for i modern sermon which she delivers in terms of the early sixteenth century stage. Her serious business is to reduce to simple terms-some of the evils which now encompass the world. She presents a Faustus who, although he never ceases to exist as a credible being in the period in which she sets him. is a figure qf modern significance. He is the man who . refuse® to see the things a® they are, who turns his back on the future to seek ways of escape into the past, to his /childhood, to the Noble Savage, He even tries to deny the validity of time. Western Hospitality Programme Visits to private houses in the West Country form a big part of the hospitality programme arranged for delegates to follow the conference. Plans are cbmplete for the following visits In Devon. Cornwall and Somerset, of New Zealand' Relegates:—

Devon. Mrs Phillips, Sadbury Laron, Honiton, hostess to Mrs A. E. Gibson; Mrs Hepburn, Scotleigh,

Chudleigh, hostess to Mrs A. E. Trouns; Mrs Grundy, The Grange, Broadhembury, Honiton. hostess to Miss M. B. Fielder; Miss Medley-Costin, The Culvery, Woodbury, Exeter, hostess to Mrs F. H. Rutland: Mrs Marker. Beechwood, Honiton, hostess to Mrs GlasCornwall.—Miss Hessie McDougall, Trevone Bay. Padstow, hostess to MiSs J. Lambie. Somerset.—Miss Lowe, Hinton St, George, hostess to Mrs McDowell; Mrs Coates. Oriel House, Bath, hostess to Mr and Mrs P. Easton: Mrs C. Salaman, Treborough Lodge, Wasbford, hostess to Miss Tarr.